Funds
China cross-border e-commerce platform raises $30m
Bolome, a Shanghai-based cross-border e-commerce platform, has raised a $30 million Series B round of funding from Chinese and South Korean investors including search engine Baidu, LB Investment, Share Capital and Chengwei Capital.
Lilly Asia commits $15m to China cancer drug developer
Lilly Asia Venture has provided a Series A round of funding worth $15 million for MabSpace Bioscience, a China-based company focused on developing cancer therapies.
Indonesia’s restaurant discovery app secures $8m
Qraved, an Indonesia-based online restaurant booking platform, has secured an $8 million Series B round of funding co-led by US-based Richmond Global Ventures and China-based Gobi Partners.
India's Essel Finance commits $11m to housing developer
The private equity arm of India's Essel Finance has invested INR400 million ($6 million) across two housing projects by Mumbai-based developer Rashmi Housing, and will invest another INR350 million in a third project.
Morningside closes fourth China TMT fund at $660m
Morningside Venture Capital, a VC firm set up by Hong Kong’s Chan family – owners of property developer Hang Lung Group – has closed its fourth China-focused fund at $660 million.
Asia O2O services: The long tail
From taxi journeys to pedicures, online-to-offline services are changing consumption channels in Asia’s emerging markets. Some leaders have emerged, but much of the sector is still up for grabs
The billion-dollar club: Asia's tech unicorns
Asia accounts for one fifth of the global tech sector’s unicorn population as companies raise larger rounds at ever higher valuations. But as investor sentiment weakens, some of these behemoths should be concerned
Q&A: OTPP's Nicole Musicco
Co-investment is a key tenet of the private equity strategy at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Nicole Musicco, managing director and head of Asia Pacific, explains how the group likes to participate
Fundraising and co-investment: Friends with benefits
Co-investment is becoming more sophisticated as managers sharpen fundraising strategies and respond to the needs of large investors. It points to an increasingly customized and complicated GP-LP relationship
India's ReNew Power raises $265m round
Indian renewable energy producer ReNew Power Ventures has raised a $265 million funding round led by a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), with participation by existing investors Goldman Sachs and the Global Environment Fund (GEF).
Canada's CPPIB opens India office
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has opened an office in Mumbai to focus on investment opportunities in India.
Chinese appliance maker to invest in Cathay's Sino-French fund
Shenzhen-listed home appliance maker Joyoung has committed EUR5 million (5.53 million) to Cathay Capital’s Sino French Innovation Fund, which is looking to invest in start-ups in France, China and the US.
I Squared's India toll road platform buys asset from Madhucon
Cube Highways & Infrastructure, the India toll road and transportation investment platform of I Squared Capital, has bought an Indian toll road from developer Madhucon Infra.
China O2O delivery start-up raises $13m
Matrix Partners and Lightspeed China Partners have committed $13 million in extended Series A round of funding to 123Feng.com, a Chinese start-up provides delivery services for e-commerce and food-ordering platforms.
China car servicing platform Tuhu raises further $50m
Tuhu, a Chinese B2C auto services platform, has raised $50 million in an extended Series C round of funding led by Hillhouse Capital.
GGV seeks $1.1b for VC investments in China, US
GGV Capital is planning to raise up to $1.1 billion across three vehicles – a core venture fund, a top-up vehicle and an early-stage fund – that will target start-up and growth-stage technology deals in China and the US.
Australia oil and gas player Santos rejects PE takeover bid
Australia-based oil and gas supplier Santos has rejected a takeover bid from Scepter Partners, a private equity firm backed by sovereign wealth funds and high net worth individuals in Asia and the Middle East.
Taikang Life leads $220m round for China’s Womai
Taikang Life Insurance has led a $220 million Series C round of funding for Womai.com, an online grocery shop under Chinese state-owned food conglomerate COFCO, valuing the company at approximately $1 billion.
Google invests in VC-backed Chinese start-up Mobvoi
Google has agreed to buy a significant minority stake in Mobvoi, a Chinese voice-activated mobile search services provider, as part of a $75 million Series C round of funding.
Formation 8 backs Singapore grocery delivery service
US venture capital firm Formation 8 has led a $15 million Series A round for Singapore-based on-demand grocery delivery start-up Honestbee.
India delivery start-up Opinio gets $7m Series A round
Opinio, a hyperlocal delivery start-up based in India, has raised $7 million in a Series A round led by Indian logistics firm Delhivery. Sands Capital Ventures and existing investor Accel Partners also participated.
Q&A: Vertex China's Choon Chong Tay
Vertex Ventures’ China team recently raised their first fund independent of the Singapore parent. Managing Director Choon Chong Tay explains the organizational changes and discusses the team’s investment strategy
China shadow lending: In from the dark
China’s shadow lenders are an often-misunderstood part of the private debt sector. Investors say these unregulated institutions are not necessarily a threat, but they are hard to account for
China’s LeTV buys control in VC-backed Yongche
Chinese media company LeTV Holdings has acquired 70% in Yongche.com, facilitating an exit for existing shareholders in the car rental and taxi-booking app.